Western Indian Ocean J. Mar.COPEPODS Sci. Vol. 2,OF No. MAKUPA 1, pp. CREEK, 65–73, MOMBASA, 2003 KENYA 65 © 2003 WIOMSA Copepodcomposition,abundanceanddiversityin MakupaCreek,Mombasa,Kenya M.K.W.Osore1,2,F.Fiers2andM.H.Daro3 1Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P. O. Box 81651, Mombasa, Kenya; 2Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; 3Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium Key words: copepods, marine pollution, mangroves, Makupa creek, Mombasa Harbour, monsoons Abstract—The taxonomic composition, abundance and spatio-temporal distribution of copepods were analysed from monthly zooplankton samples collected in Makupa creek and Mombasa Harbour (Makupa creek was until recently subjected to considerable dumping of domestic and industrial waste). At least 51 copepod species belonging to 38 genera in the families Calanoida (25), Harpacticoida (5), Poecilostomatoida (7) and Cyclopoida (1) were identified. The most common genera were Acartia, Acrocalanus, Corycaeus, Oncaea and Oithona. Copepods bloomed in the wet months of November and April (75 to 158/m3). Abundance was consistently high near the creek mouth and low within the creek enclosure. Copepod diversity (H’) was slightly higher (2.00 to 2.57) during September, November, December, January, May and June and lower (1.30 to 1.95) in the remaining months. Evenness (J) was, however, relatively constant (0.67 to 0.84) during the entire sampling period. These results point to suppressed copepod diversity and abundance in Makupa Creek, and possible reasons for this, which may include environmental degradation caused by pollution, are presented. INTRODUCTION copepods of the East African coast. The existing zooplankton literature of the region only considers Ongoing and recently completed marine research copepods as a component of the plankton (Okera, in Kenya and on the East African coast has 1974; Reay & Kimaro, 1984; Osore, 1992, 1994; produced much data and information on Osore et al., 1997), and no detailed studies on the zooplankton (e.g. Kimaro & Jaccarini, 1989; group are available. Okemwa, 1989; Osore et al., 1993; Osore et al., Table 1 summarises the physical and chemical 1995; Kitheka et al., 1997; Mwaluma, 2000). features documented for Makupa creek compiled However, information on the ecology of copepods from previous studies. The small size of the creek is still scanty, and yet this taxonomic group usually and its location—sandwiched between a busy comprises the major component of zooplankton harbour, a dumpsite and an electric power- in terms of abundance and diversity. Apart from generating plant—are major factors contributing preliminary observations of copepods and their to its pollution. Previous studies in the creek role in the secondary productivity of Tudor creek revealed almost complete loss of mangrove (Okemwa & Revis, 1986, 1988; Revis, 1988; vegetation and reduced populations of fish and Okemwa, 1990, 1992), Gazi Bay (Borger, 1990) edible crustaceans (Munga et al., 1994; Williams and of the upwelling waters of Somalia (Smith & et al., 1996). Kamau (2001), Mwashote Lane, 1981), very little is known about the (unpublished data) and Osore et al. (unpublished Corresponding author: MKWO. E-mail: mosore@ kmfri.co.ke 66 M.K.W. OSORE ET AL. Table 1. Major physical and chemical features of ecosystem. Results of the general zooplankton Makupa creek, Mombasa, Kenya, compiled from survey and also a detailed description of the study Kamau (2001), Mwashote (Unpublished data) and Osore et al. (Unpublished data) area have been submitted elsewhere (Osore et al., unpublished data). Location: Northwest of Mombasa Island Results of the composition, abundance and (4° 02' S, 39° 38' E) distribution of copepods and their seasonal trends Surface area (km2): 1 (0.85 to 1.1) at four sampling locations in Makupa creek (Stns Depth (m): 3 (0.7–13) 1, 2, 3, 4) are described, and compared with a control site in Mombasa Harbour (Stn 5). Water temperature (°C): 24.85 ± 0.50 –31.70 ±1.50 Salinity (‰): 29.90 ± 3.15 –35.80 ± 0.45 MATERIALSANDMETHODS Secchi transparency (m): 0.30 –1.40 DO concentration (mg/l): 3.60 ± 0.90–5.90 ± 4.40 Makupa creek connects to the Indian Ocean via Mombasa Harbour in Port Reitz creek (Fig. 1). Heavy metal concentration (µg/g): In sediments: Cu (56–114) Four sampling sites (Stn 1 to 4) were located in Cd (1–13), Zn (223–1429), Makupa creek and one (Stn 5) within Mombasa Fe (up to 27,718), Pb (up to 58) Harbour. Monthly sampling of zooplankton was In water: Cd (nd), Pb (12) conducted during daytime high tide from July 1996 In fish: Cd (3.9), Pb (59) to June 1997. A quantitative Bongo net of mesh Chlorophyll-a size 335 µm and mouth diameter of 45 cm µ ± ± concentration ( g/l): 2.05 0.60–8.00 6.80 equipped with a flowmeter, was used. The net was Monthly rainfall (mm): 1.9–279 towed obliquely in subsurface water by a motorboat for 5 minutes and the samples were DO, dissolved oxygen; nd, not detected. preserved in 5% formalin. Subsurface water temperature and salinity were registered using a probe (Aanderaa Display unit 3315 connected to data) have recently reported on aspects of heavy S/T sensor 3210). Dissolved oxygen was metal concentrations, trends of physico-chemical determined in the laboratory by the modified conditions and the general zooplankton community Winkler method (Parsons et al., 1984). of Makupa creek. They concluded that although Chlorophyll-a concentration was quantified spectro- there is contamination by heavy metals in the photometrically by the method described by sediments, water and some commercial fish Parsons et al. (1984). Rainfall data were obtained species, it has not yet reached critical levels. from the Meteorological Department, Mombasa, It is evident that frequent oil spillages from Kenya. Mombasa Harbour into the creek have reduced the For laboratory analysis, the entire zooplankton water quality and resulted in the degradation of sample was first screened under a binocular mangroves and other habitats. The resultant poor microscope to identify all the taxa present and then water quality may also be detrimental to the one-tenth of each sample was observed in detail recruitment of fish and invertebrates. (Osore et al., 1997). Identification keys and The study reported here was conducted as part references were obtained from Giesbrecht (1892), of collaborative multi-institutional research by the Rose (1933), Owre & Foyo (1967), Wickstead Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (1965) and Bradford (1972). Copepods were (KMFRI), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and separated from the rest of the zooplankton and the Government Chemist Department (GCD). The abundance calculated as number of individual overall research objective was to assess the causes copepods per cubic metre (ind./m3). The Shannon- and status of environmental degradation of Makupa Wiener index and Pielou index were used to creek. Sampling and analysis of zooplankton were calculate copepod diversity (H’) and homogeneity fundamental to this research, as these organisms (J) respectively (Magurran, 1996). form the basis of the food chain in the aquatic COPEPODS OF MAKUPA CREEK, MOMBASA, KENYA 67 34° 40’ E To Nairobi Kenya Tudor Creek Mangroves C a Mombasa ian us d cean 1.3 n D D I O M ea e 2 w ea M d angr angr ay d e 2 s o 3 e ve o v s v o e s 4 mpsit 1 u To Mombasa angr D D M M 2 ea angr 5 3 d o v 4 e s 4° 02’ S 4 7 5 3 Residential s e 13 v estate Electricity o Generating angr C M Ki Plant (KEGP) h p annel Industrial area e Kipevu bridge v u Crude oil storage facility KEY 5 2 Sampling stations 7 5 13 Bathymetry (m) 15 Mombasa Harbour 0 300 600 m N Port Reitz Creek Fig. 1. Map of the study area showing sampling locations in Makupa creek (Stns 1–4) and Mombasa Harbour (Stn 5) RESULTSANDDISCUSSION Copepodabundance Environmentalvariables Monthly variations in copepod abundance at the five sampling stations are shown in Fig. 3. Within Monthly changes in average environmental the creek enclosure (Stns 1–4) abundance ranged variables are shown in Fig. 2a–e. Average dissolved from 3 to 88/m3 (Stn 4), 23 to 78/m3 (Stn 3), 2 to oxygen usually ranged between 3.70 and 5.31 mg/l 60/m3 (Stn 2) and 1 to 25/m3 (Stn 1); but there and increased to 10.55 mg/l in November. was a major peak at this stn in April (638/m3). The Chlorophyll-a concentration varied from 2.10 to bloom of Pseudodiaptomus sp. caused the 8.04 µg/l. These high Chlorophyll-a values suggest prominent peak at Stn 1 in April. Several species that the creek has high phytoplankton biomass due of this genus are documented to thrive in brackish to high level of eutrophication. Surface water water and often form aggregations and swarms temperature was highest (31.0 ºC) in March and (Walter, 1989; Mauchline, 1998). Within was relatively low (24.9–27.4 ºC) from April to Mombasa Harbour (Stn 5), abundance varied August. There was little variation in salinity between 10 and 209/m3. Peak abundance (209/m3) (35.0–36.0 ‰) except in August (29.9 ‰) and was observed in December. April (30.7 ‰), when it was low. Rainfall was high Total copepod abundance for all stations was in April (268 mm), May (279 mm) and November high during the NEM period, which occurred in (136 mm) during the southeast monsoon (SEM) November to March. The mean value of copepod period, but minimal or absent from December to abundance was also significantly high (P = 0.001) March, the northeast monsoon (NEM) period.